Limbo

Overall, the German movie is not doing so well. The genres of German movies seem to be the usual suspects: Romantic comedies or everything about WWII. We shouldn't even start talking about the questionable practice of movie funding in Germany, i.e. Allocation of public money for movie productions.

What has been done here with Limbo is a ray of hope.

Since the movie was shot in one take, we are in the middle of all action from the very beginning and follow the protagonists step by step. It is unforgivable to hold your cell phone in your hand while watching. There is too much happening in every minute.

Sure, it seems as if Martin Semmelrogge as Ozzy falls into overacting in the first third of the movie, but his acting then blends wonderfully into the heated atmosphere of the movie's main setting.

The actors, crew and extras did a great job. In a one-take shot, every little mistake is unforgivable. A slip of the tongue in dialog, looking into the camera, wrong timing - everything sets the shoot back to the beginning. But the risk and the effort paid off.

The gangster story which takes place in Munich (no, we are not in Berlin this time) is believable, even if it also serves stereotypes.

The movie was released at a difficult time just a few weeks before the beginning of the pandemic in Germany and has, quite wrongly, received too little attention.

It not often happens I´m not eating my popcorn box 🍿completely or thought about leaving a movie (2 people out of about 20 did). Well, last time it was the sneak preview of Charlies Angels, if you know what I mean.

I hoped troughout the whole movie for a real plot twist or more excitement.There was nothing. No character development, everthing predictable. I would not even watch it on television for free. Why did they film a movie with nearly the same topic as "Bad banks"?!

They advertised with the "one-shot"- technique and maybe I don´t get the advantage of this. But I don´t want to see the person walk up and down a starway in a 3rd-person view half of the movie without a real contribution to the story..maybe a simple cut had helped here?!

Of course Martin Semmelrogge had a few funny talks but it didn´t helped the movie to be good.

Limbo is a one take film like Victoria. but its not so clever constructed. The story and caracters can't convince, their motivations didnt react to me.

most of the film takes place in an illegal fight club. the camera follows the characters through much to long corridors, that only connect one dialogue with the next. camerawork is mediocre, with many much too close closeups, lazy focus and not that interesting viewing angles.

the story is quite boring, dealing with illegal money, banks and a underworld king. Something you have seen 1000 times before.

wait until it will be shown on TV and dont spend any money on it.

I understand if people say there is no deep character developments etc. but I don't think that's always necessary like this movie demonstrates it perfectly! Why? Because you're in the middle of the whole struggle with them through the whole 90 mins thanks to the one shot and for me this was a new cinema experience! Is it a perfect movie? Of course not! But you need to consider this is not a 90 mil budget movie from Hollywood and nevertheless it could entertain me on a very high level! That's why I rate this movie 9/10

Bad acting (especially from Semmelrogge). Confusing script! Better do other things wirh your time.